Letter from Hawaii
Aloha, greetings from Hawaii, the home of sunshine, natural beauty and wonderfully pure air and water. The State of Hawaii – Pearl of the Pacifi c Ocean – is blessed by gentle trade winds, the tropical environment providing a healthy and long life.
Comprised of four main Islands – Hawaii, Maui, Kauai and Oahu – the main population center is Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, where most permanent residents choose to live. Honolulu is known for its famous landmark, the Diamond Head Crater (an extinct volcano with beautiful crystals once thought to be diamonds – disappointingly, they weren’t), and for Waikiki Beach, which entertains 7-8 million visitors a year. Real Estate on the “outer islands” (Maui, Hawaii, Kauai) has been affected by the economy, but the main Island of Oahu has rebounded with zest. Home prices in Oahu hit a low in December 2008, averaging $550,000, but today average $625,000 and one local economist predicts a rise to $800,000 by 2015, due to lack of inventory and signifi cant purchases by
foreign buyers. Top 10 buyers from abroad are Japan, Canada, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Guam, Taiwan, Singapore and the UK. In the $700,000 to $1,300,000 range, properties on Oahu are in many cases receiving multiple offers and going for above list price.
The high-end neighborhoods on Oahu are the Kahala and Diamond Head areas, where we feel privileged to represent many of the most spectacular homes. You’ll have to get used to our indoor/outdoor lifestyle: we don’t live in grass shacks any more, but many new homes have sliding doors that pocket into the walls, allowing home owners to enjoy the warm, welcoming outdoors. The indoor/outdoor design makes the gardens or patios (called “lanais”) part of the home. Often, to take advantage of such living, the kitchens are open to family rooms and living rooms, recognizing that much of family life is spent in the kitchen.
Multi-cultural society has made Hawaii special, with its own Pacifi c Rim Cuisine and Hawaiian food served at tourist events that feature Hula and Fire Knife Dancers. The lifestyle is gentle and natural, with a touch of sophistication.
Come and visit us when you want to unwind and relax.
TEL (808) 734-7711 • FAX (808) 735-8879 •
hawaii@choi-realty.com • 1215 Hunakai Street, Suite 200, Honolulu, HI 96816 •
www.ChoiRealty.com 60
Patricia Ch�i
Patricia Choi is the President and Principal Broker at Choi International, which specialises in the sale of luxury real estate in Honolulu, Hawaii. Email:
pat@choi-realty.com Telephone: 001.808.734.7711 Website:
www.ChoiRealty.com
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